Glentoran winger Conor McMenamin’s impressive season in the Irish League has been rewarded with a call-up to this week’s Northern Ireland training camp in England.
McMenamin, who scored 22 goals in all competitions, is one of four Danske Bank Premiership players included in Ian Baraclough’s 26-man panel.
Larne defender Kofi Balmer, Dungannon Swifts midfielder Terry Devlin and Glenavon keeper Josh Clarke will also attend the four-day gathering at St George’s Park in Staffordshire.
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Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough is using the camp as a chance to assess the fitness of a number of key players and expose younger players to a senior environment.
And with a raft of key players unavailable due to club commitments, a number of teenagers plying their trade in England have been named.
The youthful panel includes Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee, Manchester City defender Shea Charles and West Ham United defender Michael Forbes.
Former Linfield midfielder Charlie Allen, now at Leeds United, Derby County midfielder Darren Robinson, Brighton defender Ruairi McConville and Chelsea's Sam McClelland are also in the squad.
Senior stars include Conor Washington (Charlton), Dion Charles (Bolton), Shayne Lavery (Blackpool), Gavin Whyte (Oxford United), Ciaron Brown, Ali McCann (Preston) and Paddy Lane (Fleetwood).
The camp is part preparation for the commencement of the Nations League with Northern Ireland’s first group game at home to Greece on June 2.
Further games follow against Cyprus and Kosovo away on June 5 and 9, before the four game run concludes at home to Cyprus on June 12.
The Northern Ireland training squad is as follows..
GOALKEEPERS – Luke Southwood (Reading), Dermot Mee (Manchester United), Josh Clarke (Glenavon).
DEFENDERS – Ciaron Brown (Oxford United, on loan from Cardiff City), Michael Forbes (West Ham United), Paddy Lane (Fleetwood Town), Shea Charles (Manchester City), Sam McClelland (Chelsea), Brodie Spencer (Huddersfield Town), Sean Stewart (Norwich City), Kofi Balmer (Larne), Ruairi McConville (Brighton and Hove Albion).
MIDFIELDERS – Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Alfie McCalmont (Morecambe, on loan from Leeds United), Oisin Smyth (Oxford United), Caolan Boyd-Munce (Middlesbrough), Terry Devlin (Dungannon Swifts), Barry Baggley (Fleetwood Town), Charlie Allen (Leeds United), Darren Robinson (Derby County).
FORWARDS – Conor Washington (Charlton Athletic), Shayne Lavery (Blackpool), Gavin Whyte (Oxford United, on loan from Cardiff City), Dion Charles (Bolton Wanderers), Paul Smyth (Leyton Orient), Conor McMenamin (Glentoran).
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